Texans get approving nod from O’Brien after first week of OTAs

New offensive and defensive systems and limited practice time before training camp isn’t the ideal learning situation for a Texans team coming off an NFL-worst 2-14 season.

But new coach Bill O’Brien was pleased with his rookies following a recent minicamp and he exited the first week of OTAs saying his squad is making visible progress.

“Overall, I would say these guys have worked extremely hard,” O’Brien said Thursday at NRG Stadium. “They’ve been competitive. The guys have shown a really good commitment to try to learn what we’re doing and I thought (Thursday) was a good example of that. I really think as it relates to this week, I can see improvement throughout the three days. I thought overall it was a good week and a good way to end the week today.”

O’Brien acknowledged he’s unsure when the new information will truly click for the Texans. But after informal strength and conditioning sessions, minicamps and three OTAs, the team has remained on schedule during the initial stage of system installations.

“We’ve thrown a lot of information, especially at the veterans, in I think this was the seventh or eighth week that we’ve been together,” O’Brien said. “We’ve thrown a lot of info at these guys and to me they’ve picked it up as well as could be expected to this point. There’s a lot of different nuances to the offense and there’s really good questions and things that they’re hearing for the first time because it’s a new question. I’ve been pleased with the way they’ve studied it and picked it up, especially the guys that have been here.”

O’Brien planned to travel to Austin on Thursday evening for a team function, then regroup with his coaches to evaluate the first week of OTAs and plan for next week’s three-day run.

“We need, let’s say, more two-minute work; we just installed that (Thursday),” O’Brien said. “Obviously, we haven’t got to a lot of red (-zone) area, being backed up, four-minute offense and a lot of situational type things. We have to take stock of where we’re at. We have an inventory list of things that we have to get covered and I think we’re in the right direction, but we have got to regroup this weekend and see where we are relative to next week.”

He added: “Our expectation level here in Houston is very high. This is a pro football team and these are pro football players. We’re pro coaches. So our expectation level for these guys and for ourselves is very high.”

Third-year wide receiver DeVier Posey drew specific praise Thursday.

“He’s doing a good job,” O’Brien said. “He’s a conscientious guy. He works hard at it. He studies. He asks good questions. Fun guy to coach because you know he’s working at it, trying to learn it.”